Combined steam power and heating apparatus.



No. 894,897. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

E. 1:". OSBORNE.

COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

jrwenior' [lye/16f 036077) wiinesses:

No. 894,897. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

E. F. OSBORNE. COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1.903. I2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 894,897. PATENTED AUG. 4,1908. E. F. OSBORNE.

COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLIdATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

. 12 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Zi/z'irzeasew fizz/anion No. 894,897. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

E. F. OSBORNE. COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wanes as: Y [rave/afar; W age/16F 0.9601726 No. 894,897. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

E. F. OSBORNE.

COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

N W In UEVZZOT! [Lye/26F 05601726 PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

E. F. OSBORNE. A A COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903 12 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Zflz'zmrex I 59 [werziorv bilge/26F 05601726 JW I No. 894,897. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908. E. F. OSBORNE.

COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

J 16 46 I I l No. 894,897. PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908. E. F. OSBORNE.

COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

12 SHEETS-SHEET a.

[Iii/lemme i I 15206751 01: 7145/% 25259606! (19601726 PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

I E. P. OSBORNE. COMBINED-STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

12 SHEETS-$HEET 9.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

jkvemiar; ['Ybbanm by I flityy PATENTED AUG. 4 1908. E. F. OSBORNE.

COMBINED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

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N 4 s97. PATENTED AUG. 4 1908.

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GOMBII IED STEAM POWER AND HEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2 1 0a.

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E. P. OSBORNE. COMBINED STEAM POWER ANDHEATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1903.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

UNITED sTAtrEsTP r T OFFICE.

EUGENE F. OSBORNE, OF'OHICAGO, 'ILIlINOIS,'ASS IGNOP- TO OSBORNE STEAM. ENGINEERING COMPANY, OF CHIOAGO, ILLINOIS, A OORPORAIION OF ILLINOIS.

COMBINED TE M POW R AND HEATING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

Application filed November 23, 1903. Serial 0. 182,334.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE F. OsBoRNE,

a citizen of the United States, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements m a Combined Steam Power and Heat mg Apparatus; and I- do hereby declare the to owing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and.to the letters of steam for power and heating purposes, of

that class wherein a ortion of the heat of the steam is converte" in a steam engine into powerand applied to perform work, and a portion or al of the heat "of the exhaust steam from said engine is utilized for heating pur oses! 1e principal object of my invention is to maintain uniformly hi h theefliciency of a combined power and eating plant of this character, considered with respect to, the

, roduction ofsteam and consumption of uel, when operating under varying cond1-- tions with respect to the load of the engine and the load on the heating system, and so constructed that when both parts of the apparatus are operating under practically their full load the maximum available heat of the exhaust steam is utilized in the heating system, and when the heating system is operating under less than its full ca acity or is entirely cut off, the steam use in the engine for power purposes is used at an. efiiciency practically as high as may be attainable with a condensing engine.

A further "object of the invention is to maintain a constant' difference of pressure between the-feed and return side of thesystem notwithstanding the absolutepressures maintained in the two sides of the system.

A still further object of the invention is to vary the time of cut-off of the exhaust closures'of an engine em loyed in a system of this character, contro ed by the, conditions of back pressure in the engine, whereby ti 3 clearance spaces of the engine are always filled with exhaust, steam at a substantially constant pressure and temperature.

Otherobjects of the invention will appear from the foregoing description and subjacent claims.

- My combined power and heating system I oont'emplatesthe interposition of a condenser between the engine and the heating systemcombined with provision for so operating the condenser that whatever exhaust steam Which passes into the condenser that is not requiredforheating .purposes is condensed therein in the manner of a usual condenser, the parts operating in such manner that a certain determined pressure and correlative temperature is .maintained in theheating system so that only that portion of the exhaust steam that isnot re uired for heating purposes shall be condenser in the condenser. 0 this end I propose to regulate the supply of the condensing agent to the condenser to accord with the consumption ofthe steam in the heating system, and conveniently such supply ofthe condensing agent is controlled by a throttle valve which is placed under the governing influence of the pressure in the feed side of the heating system, whereby is regulated .or determined the quantity of the steam to be passed to the heating system for heating pur oses and the quantity to be condensed; ant such overning mechanism is so constructed that t e pressure maintained in the heating system may be varied and therefore the quantity of steam condensed in the condenser correspondingly varied. These conditions are maintained so long as there is suflicient exhaust steam furnished to oper ate the heating system u'nderthe conditionof pressure and temperature desired. If there be an insuflicient quantity of exhaust steam to supply the heating system, then in that case live steam may be added, which will be in roduced to the steam space of the heating system through a governing mechanism which is controlled 7, by the conditions of pressure existing in the heating system.

My invention also contemplates 1n lts practical adaptation an aircheck valve lo cated at the terminal end of' the exhaust.

pipe of the engine beyondlits connection with the condenserand which is so constructed as to prevent the entrance of air to the condenser and therethrough to the heating, system, and which, at the same time, permits the escape of exhaust steam from the exhaust pipe in case there should bea greater volume of exhaust steam discharged into the exhaust I" pipe than can be promptly consumedby the condenser and heating system.

My lnvention also contemplates the use of 40 hereinafter-referred to.

a governing device in connection with the engine which is so constructed as to vary the time of closing of the exhaust valves and to thereby adjust the'engi'ne to diflerent back 'pressu'res, whereby the clearance spaces of the cylinder may be filled with the .exhaust steam at a constant temperature and ressure, notwithstanding the variations o the back pressure. In the practical adaptation of my invention to a combined heating and power ap paratus, special fittings are provided, as will hereinafter more fully appear, to enable the system to successfully operate under the high vacuum to which itis adapted. An exhausting apparatus is connected with the heating devicesof the system so as to exhaust the air. from said heating devices in first startin the heating system and. maintaining such difference 0 pressure betweenthe feed and return 'sides of the system as to insure .the proper flow of the steam into and through the heating devices. Such exhausting apparatus is placed under the governing influence of the feed' and return sides of the heating system and operates to maintain a constant di'llerence of pressures between the said feed and return sides of the system, regardless of the A absolute pressures maintained therein.

hing system through which the condensing wateris circulated to cool the same. Fig. I 1s a sectlonal View of the three-way valve 0 a section of a condenser formingpart-of said system. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectionof a valve,

for regulating the supply of the condensing agent to the condenser. Fig.4 is a vertical sectlonof anlair check valvefor preventing the admission of atmospheric air to the heating 'tion taken on system. Fig 5 is a detail section taken on line 5-'5 of F1g 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sec; line 6.6 ofFig. 4. Figs. 7, 8

. and 9 are detailsillustrating devices for adjusting the angleof the weighted leverof said air check valve. Fig. 10 is a partial side elevati n of a Corliss engine, showing applied there 0 a closing o the-exhaust valves of theengine.

a vertical'section of the governor. F1g.; 2 ma detail section taken on line 1 2-12 of .F1g. 10. .-Fig. 13 isa vertical'section of an .improvedfform of grease catcher and dehydrator interposedbetween the engine and condenser. ,Figi 14 .1s across-section taken on line 14- 14 of F ig 1 3. Fig:-'15 is a fragmentary,

perspective-view, showing the formof the in-' ,terceptlng or batfie bars and the manner of Fig. 2 is a vertical ressute governor for regulating the tail section/taken on line 1616 of Fig. 13. Fig. 17 is a fragmentary section of a radiator showing the associated feed and return i i tting, and a valvethrough which air is admitted to the radiator and withdrawn therefrom. Fig. 18 is a cross-section, taken on line 18l8 of Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a sectional view of a seal fitting located in the main steam distributing pipe through which steam is directed from the steam main to the heating devices and the water of condensation-is directed from the heating devices back to the steam main. Fig. 20 is a longitudinal axial section of an air valve shown in the upper radiator in Fig. 1. Fig. 21 illustrates a radiator located at or below the level of the water collecting tank of the system, and the feed and return fittings therefor. 'plication to a radiator of an approved form of thermostatic regulating valve. Fig. 23 is a vertical section of a steam check valve associated therewith. Fig. 24'is a vertical section of the thermostat proper. Fig. 25 is a detail illustrating the valve of said thermostat. Fig. 26 is a top plan view, partially broken away, of a shifting valve associated with the apparatus shown in Fig. 22. Fig. 27 is avertical sectionthereof, taken on line 27.27 of Fig. 26..

First referring to Fig. 1, which illustrates diagrammatically a combined steam power and heatingplant made in accordance with my invention 'd i designates a boiler in which steam for power and heating purposes steam from said boiler and in which a portion of the .steam is converted into power, and 0 C C designate the heating devices or radiators of a steam heating system in which is utilized a portion of the heat of the exhaust steam from the engine to heat the space surrounded by said devices. The exhaust steam is conveyed to said heating devices through horizontal and vertical distributing pipes D D, respectively, the latter being connected with the heating devices by branch pipes c. Interposed between said E which may be made of any suitable type and is herein illustrated as a water surface condenserprovided-with the usual horizontal pans and in its lower part with a water chamber Fig. 2). The exhaust pipe B of said engine enters the condenser through a neck e in the top wall thereof. The horizontal distributing pipe D is connected with said condenser through-the medium of a pipe D which enters the condenser near the longitudinal center thereof. The supply steam pipe a which conveys steam to the engine is shown as provided with aidehydrator A and .the water collected in said dehydrator is carried by a pipe 0. back-t0 the boiler A. The exhaust pipe B is provided between the consecuring the same in place; Fig. 16 is a de Fig. 2 illustrates the ap- I is generated, B an engine which receives heating devices and the engine-is a condenser I mote from the riser asherein shown.

denser and engine with a grease extractor and dehydrator B, shown in detail in F igs, 13 to 16 inclusive, and hereinafter described, and it discharges its contents through a pipe 5 into a catch basin or tank B beneath the same; Said exhaust steam pipe isalso provided with an air check valve, indicated as a whole by the reference letter F. An approved form of air check valve is'illustrated in detail in Figs. 4' to 9 inclusive, and will be hereinafter described.

Water or other condensing agent is delivered to the condenser E through a pipe E- leading from any suitable source supplying the condensing agent, and said pipe is provided with an automatic regulating valve or throttle, designated as a wholeby E and shown in detail in Fig. 3. Said regulating valve or throttle is, in this instance, controlled by the condition of pressure in the feed side of the heating system in such manner that the steam not required for heating purposes is condensed and the parts cooper" ate with appliances which act to maintain a predetermined pressure in the heating system, so long as there is sufficient exhaust steam for heating purposes. That is to say, the exhaust steam which is deliver ed into the condenser E is utilized'in the heating system to the extent which itis required in order to heat the same, and, such exhaust steam as is not required in the heating system is condensed in the condenser in the usual manner, and the automatic regulating or throttle valve E is so operated as to deliver the condensing agent to the condenser in such quantities that the steam not required for the steam heating system will be condensed. When there is not suflicient exhaust steam to supply the heating apparatus live steamis admitted to the pipe'D through a live steam pipe (1 provided with a pressure regulating valve A which is constructed and operates in the general manner of the valve shown in my U. S. Letters Patent, No. 791,811, granted June 6th, 1905.

The branch pipes c delivering steam to the radiators lead from special seal fittings G located in the riser D, and illustrated in detail in Fig. 19. ,The branch feed pipes 0 enter feed andreturn fittings C atone side of the radiator, the sideof the radiatorS reg a1 fittings C are each provided at its top with screw-threaded opening which receives the pipe 0 and is provided at its lower end with a screw-threaded opening whichreceivesthe water of condensation pipe Cf through which the water of condensation is carried away from the heating devices. The lower) end of each water of condensation pipes C dis- 1 charge, as hereinshown', into the next lower seal fitting G. Each feed and return fitting 1 is provided with an interior branch 0 to which is connected a pipe 0 (Fig. 17) which extends j with the condenser E;

, shifting weight through the base of the radiator and delivers steam to the side thereof remote from said fitting.

C C" designate air pipes through which air is discharged or withdrawn from the heating devices or radiators, and said air pipes are connected at their lower ends with a return pipe which is connected at its other end with a central exhausting apparatus. As herein shown, the pipe Cconstitutes also the water of condensation return pipe and is connected with the pipeD through the medium of a trap C of any preferred. type. The air and water pipes may, optionally, be separate. The central exhausting and water return apparatus consists of a pump H into the induction side of which enters the pipe C and the eductionside of said pump is connected through a pipe-h with a closed water tank H which latter tank is connected by a pipe 11 whereby the water of condensation is carried to the condenser for the purpose of producing whatever condensing eiiect it may possess. The water tank H is provided with a blow pipe h" through which air mixed with the return water may be discharged from the system. The live steam pipe M, which delivers steam to the engine H which operates the water pump H, is provided with a pressure controlled valve H (Figs. 1 and 1) of any common or preferred type of that class wherein the movable part or closure h is connected with and operated by a5 diaphragm 71 which is subject on its opposite sides to differential pressures. One side of the diaphragm is subjected to the feed pressure and the other t/QthQ return pressure of the heating system through the pipes h h, respectively, the former being connected with the steam pipe D and the latter with the return pipe 0 Said valve H embraces a verticall swinging lever it having a 72 and the lever is loosely connected between itsends to a rod or stem it that connects the closure with said diaphragm and the weight acts with the lower pressure on the diaphragm. The weight 71 effects and maintains, through its regulative effect on the steam delivered to the engine H a constant difference in pressure between the feed and return sides of the system.

, Water is drawn from the lower end of the condenser by a feed pump I to supply the boiler A. The engine otsaid feed'water pump I is supplied with steam through the medium of a steam pipe Heading from the live steam pipe a. Preferably and asherein shown, the condensing water delivered through the pipe E to the condenser for the purpose of condensing the steam therein is taken from a closed circuit which is supplied from the lower end ofthe condenser tank, whereby the condensing water is used over and over again, and in which closed circuit the water is suitably cooled between the time p lower-end of the condenser tank E, and insaid pipe J serving-as anair release pipe to 30.

' i pipe J, a horizontal pipe J and a Second J from whichlw'ateris drawn by the pipe E,

ing through said closed circuit.

it may be utilized in at; heating device J 7 insaid circuit, shown in Fig.:1, for the purpose before it is again delivered to the pipe E and y' connectedwit-h the steam-pipe (If.

.tank'is branched upwardly and downwardli;

.water plpe i leading fromsaid condenser communicates with the latter below the deiWhen a closed circuit is employed, as herein eluded in said pipe J is 'a governor J of any suitable t pe which controls the supply of steam to the engine which operates the pump in a'manner to maintain "in,the condenser tank a body of water to a iven or determined level. The governor 2 is of the float t e pipe J discharges and is provided with an eduction'pipe J through which the water is discharged therefrom to the pump J. A float J carries a-valve J3 o'peratin in a suit able valve chamber J and contro s the passage'of steam through the pipej the parts of which communicate with said valve chamber 'in the manner shown in Fig. 1 The receiving end of the pipe J within the condenser so as to maintain a body of water in the tan at a, level of the pipe J, the upper branch of V prevent siphoning of the water from the condenser throughthe lower'branch. The feed termined water level in said condenser tank.

- The circuit through which the water employed for condensing-purposes is forced by the hot water umpJ, consists of a vertical vertical pipe J the terminal end of which latter pipe discharges into a collecting tank which delivers the condensing" water to the condenser. The water withdrawn from the condenser E is at the same temperature as J the steam in the condenser and this heat may be utilized for any useful purposes while pass- For instance,

of heating an. apartment or the like. 'An air release chamber J ,is included in said closed circuit through which air is discharged from the water withwhich it maybe mixed or entrained in said circuit. If there be no useful purpose for which to femploy the heat of the water, the water drawn from the condenser maybe cooled in any other suitable manner therethrough discharged into the condenser.

shown, the collecting tank J is desirably connected with the low pressure or return side of the heating system, as by means of a valved. pipe 3' thereby reducing the power necessaflry L type, it consisting ofa casingJ into which return side of the system, as by meansof the valved pipe B connected with-the return .pipeC". The accumulated gases and water may be forced from said basin at a time when the ipe B is closed through the valved discl iargei e B thereof by steam pressure introduced tliereinto through a valved steam ipe B5 connected withthe live steampipe'i before mentioned. Under usual working conditions,' the vfilveddischarge pipe B is closed. J

The construction of the' pressure controlled throttle valve E which'regulates the supply of the condensing liquid to the condenser, and ,thelmanner of operating said valve, will now be explained, reference being had to Fi s. 1 and .3.- Said valve com rises a casing ill provided on its opposite sides with branches e e with which are connected the parts or sections of the .water pi e E. sage iscontinued inwar yto form inside the casing a closed box like structure the u er and lower walls e e of which are with alinedorts throu h which .t e water passes from t e inlet to t e outlet. side of the The inlet pasvalve. Said orts are closed byuppen and lower upwar y opening valve closures consisting of plates 6 e whieh fit closely in said portsand are rigidlyconnected by a sleeve 0.

aid sleeve is provided with integral radial guide wings e which engage the mar ms of vsaid ports-when the valves are raise from their seats to constitute-guides forsaid closures. Below the lowermost closure a is a horizontal balance disk e connectedtherewith by the sleeve e and the lower guide wings e, said disk a acting to e ualize the kinetic force of the fluid passing t ough 'the valve and to prevent the same from overbalancing the valve in' a manner tending to hold the valve 0 en. E designates a diaphragm chamber" ocated ben aththe valve chamber, and E 'the diaphra m within said chamber. Connected centra y with said diaphragm, referably by a loosely connected'link is an endwise reciprocating valve stem E which extends upwardly through aneck Eiconnecting the diaphragm chamber and the valve casing, and said stem isconnected by means of a cross-pin a with the 11 per end of the sleeve ei'connecting the va ve closures, whereby motion is communieated from the stem to said closures. The diaphragm is acted upon at its upper and lower sides by opposingfiuid columns,

the fluid of the upper column fillin the upper art of the'chamber and the nec E, and the fluid of the lower column filling the lower 7 art of the chamber. The said valve stem 6 extends upwardly through a packing diaphragm chamber throug medium of the sleeve E which is attached rigidly to and filled by fluid from the upper column, the

whole constituting a water packing which prevents the escape of water tothe valve chamber. The location of the packing for the stem within the valve sleeve E enables the valve, as a whole, to be materially shortened. Thevalve chamber is provided with a drain pipe E 'to drain ofl any water collecting therein. The liquid columns acting op ositely against the diaphragm and control ing the movable parts of the valve E are supplied from liquid contained in two tanks or receptacles E E, the tank E communicating with the u pe .part of the ll a ipe' e" and the tank E communicating wit the lower part'ofthe diaphragm chamber through a similar ipe e The tank E" is open to the atmospiiere while the tank E is subject 'to the pressure in the feed'side of the system; it being herein shown as-con'nected with the horizontal distributing pipe D through the pipe E, which communicates with said tank E above the liquid level therein.

As before stated, the closure of the auto air has downwardly.

. is first started in operation.

As will be'observed by an inspection of Fig. 1, the Weight of the liquid column in the tank E" is exerted on the top I of the diaphragm in a manner to close the valve While the liquid column in the tank E and its connecting pipee .is exerted on the bottom of said diaphragm in a manner to open the valve. The degree of vacuum to be maintained in the feed side of the heating system is dependent, therefore, upon and regulated by, the relative differences in pressures on the opposite sides of the diaphragm E When operating ihe system under a vacuum, as t is herein designed to operate,

the level in the liquid tank E is lower than that in the tank E whereby the effect of i he opposing liquidcolumns is, to hold l'he valve open and permit the condensing fluid to pass freely into the condenser when the system if a vacuum, of say\20 feet of water, to be maintained in the feed side of the heatingsy'stem, the difference between the levelsof the liquid in two tanks will be in the neighbdrhood 10 feet. When steam is first admitted to .'the condenser-a (1 feed side of the system, after the li een exhausted from'the system by the exhausting device preparatory to start-- ing the system in operation, ihe free flow of the condensing liquid to the condenser first o erates to condense' 'thegreater portion of t e steam, so that in a short time a vacuum will be established in the feed side of the system which will continue until the predetermined vacuum is reached. Upon establishing the predetermined vacuum in the feed side of the heating system, such vacuum will be exerted, through the pipe E", the liquid column in the tank E and its pipe to neutralize the force of such liquid column to open the valve, Whereu on the pressure of the column in the tank will act on the upper side of the diaphragm to close the valve and thereby reduce or cut oil the supply of the condensing agent to the. condenser. The effect of condensing agent to the condenser is to reduce-the vol ume ofsteam condensed therein,

whereby the steam required for heating pur-- posesis diverted to the heating system. If there be but only sufficient exhaust steam produced to supply thev heating system at the predetermined vacuum, such vacuum when established in the feed side of the system will effect the complete closing of the valve E and arrest further condensation until, by

of reducing the supply upon reason of a' decreasedconsumption of the steam in the system, or an increased supply of the exhaust steam to the condenser, it is required that a portion of the steam be again condensed. Upon the happening of either of the events vacuum in the feed side of the heating system diminishes the lifting effect of such vacuum on the column in the tank E and its connecting pipe, wherefore the superior Weight of column acts to open the valve E and mentioned, the decrease of the x while employing the exhaust device shown I for maintaining a proper circulation of steam through the system, thereby maintaining a low back pressure in the engine. Such lowback pressure is maintained when-1 he system is in full operation either by \he use of all the exhaust steam in thefheating system, or. the

use ofa part of the steam therein'and the condensationin the condenser E of the remainder of the steam, or by the condensation of all the steam in the condenser when the heating system is out of service. The

tank E, in which a variable column is main tained to efiect the establishmentof varying vacuums in the feed side of the system, is supplied'with liquid through a pipe 6 which 18 connected with a liquid supply pipe 6".

Said i e c is also connected with a i e e P P P through which liquid'is supplied to the collecting tank J of the condensing fluid circuit,

:whereby' such condensing fluid may be re.--

plenished as necessary. A three-Way valve .e is located at the intersection of the pipes e 6 .6 Figs. 1 and 1, whereby the fluid delivered to the pipe e may be directed either.

into the tank E" or tank J, or the fluid from the tank- E may bedischarged directly. through thepipes c and ,e to the tank J 'A valved pipe 6 5 connects the pipes e and e and the valve of the connecting pipe is 'normally closed. By opening the valve of said connecting pipe and properly adjusting the valve e water may be drawn'from the tank E tl'rrough the pipe a, said. conneciing pipe, the pipe e, the pipe e and the pipe e into the tank J The. three-way valve e is of ordiiiary construction, as shown in Fig.

' e and a? with which the be brought into register with either of the V E E, the working vacuum in the feed side ports e ore or to be brought opposit e to an imperforate' part of" the casing wall toclo'se the valve; Bv raising. or lowering the liquid level in the tank E 'and'ihereby vary-- ing the relative levels in the tanks E and of the heating system may be varied.

The ressure controlled valve A through which 've steam is admit-ted to the heating system when required is controlled-through the medium ofjtheliquid columns in the liquid tanks E E asherein shown, such tanks being connected with the diaphragm chamber of the valve by means of pipes e" e. In a system of this character, the hack pressure on the engineis variable wi comparatively wide limits owing to the fact that the-lo'ad-on the engine is subject to variationsand also tlfatthe load on 'the hea ing system is constanjtlv changing and ma be.

suddenly changed through wide limits. It is d'esirablein'order to establish and maintain theniost economical efficiency of t heapnarat'us as a whole that the closing ofrthe ex haust valvesef the engine should be timed to accord with the variations of back pressure in',.the'en e and therebvjinsure a-subsi an- 5 Y I;

tlallyconst ant pressure and=correlat1ve temperature" of theexhaust steam in the clearance spaces of-the enginecylinder, That is:

to say, when t he back pressure in the engine is lowthelre should be ret ained suflicient eX- haust ste'amin the-cylinderito fill the clear-Q ancejspaees thereof at 'a given pressure and temperature and, for thi s'reason, the exhaust Valvesshould be closed earlyinxthe'travel bf I t'he' .piston.-f :When, en the other hand, the

' back-fpressure is increased the exhaust valves shouldbeclosed later the travel of the pisby an end wall b ton and thereby prevent too high a pressure of the steam; in the clearance spaces. The means herein shown for effecting this result is illustrated more clearly in Figs. 1, 10, 11/

and 12 and are madeas follows": The engine, 7Q

herein shown is a Corliss engine and embraces the usual inlet valves at the top of the cylinder to the stems b of which (Fig. 10) are connected the usual cams b and cam arms 6 which operate, 'in connection with any familiar form of governor, and withcrab claws, latch blocks (not shown) and dashpots for variably cutting off the admission of live steam 'to the cylinder. designates 'the usual wrist plate and bf links connected at their inner ends to the-wrist plate and which are adapted to beiconnected at their outer ends wi h the usual bell-cranks and latch blocks which, in connection with the cams I), act to control-the closing movements of 35 the valves. In order tocontrol the closing movements of the, exhaust valves, I propose to apply to the exhaust valves a governing gear similan to that applied tothe steam inlet valves of the usual Corliss engine.- To this end the stems b ofthe exhaust valve are provided with cams and cam .arms 5 b respec tively, which arms are conneci ed by means oflinks or rods B B with the ends of a rocker B which is'pivoted by a bolt or pin b to the engine frame. Said rods or links B carryat their ends bol s 12" which extend through slots in said rocker, as-more clearly shown in Fig. 12,-wherebythe links have adjustable slotted connection with the rocker.

Said bolts are clamped to said rocker by nuts 6 The rocker B is provided with a rigid arm B which is connected with a suitable pressure governor which is controlled by the ack pressure of the enginein such manner that as theback pressure is increased the eX- haust valves will be closed later in thetravel ofthe piston and, conversely, as the back ressure is decreased the exhaust valves will he closed earlier. in i he stroke of the pistoil. ,110

I have shown in detail in Figs. 10; and 11 one convenient form of pressure governor which is adapted to the purposes above specifled", said governor beingmade as followsz. B designates a hollow casing which is open 5 at its lower end and closed at its upper end B designates a reeiproeating piston which fits tightly in the lower 'end of the casing and the stem of saidpistonis loosely connected or hinged atits lower 20 casing B is formed an upwardly opening oil chamber adapted to receive the annular flangeb of the piston when in the lower art of its movement, whereby the piston is ubricated. The oil chamber is provided with a char in assa e b at its side. Said 13o M n h p h filling-chamber and said liquid'is admitted to the piston chamber above the piston by opening the valve 11. Said stem b is extendedbelow said valve to form a stop b to limit,

the upward movement of the piston B5. B designates a small valved pipe which enters the piston chamber at one side'thereof and is connected at its other end with the-distributing pipe D of the heating system (Fig. 1), whereby said piston chamber is in open communication with the steam space of the feed side of the system. The weight-of the column. of liquid supported by the piston B acts to normally hold the piston-depressed and the vacuum in the pipeD acts, through the pipe B to lift said column of liquid so that the piston B may be raised by the superior. atmospheric pressure beneath the same, the liquid being transferred to the pipe 13. Said pipe is made much'smaller than the piston chamber, whereby the action of the vacuum on the parts is closely graduated. The vertical movements of the piston act, through the rocker B and links. B, to shift the cams b and thereby change the time of the exhaust cut off. ll", for. instance, the full weight of the column of liquid acts to depress the piston B it may be assumed (under the present conditions)-that the back pressure is substantially atmospheric pressure, and at this time the exhaust is cut off at times in the travel of the piston suitable to atmospheric back pressure. Upon the decrease of the I back pressure, however, the weight of the column of liquid above the piston B -will be partially lifted thereby allowing the piston to rise by reason of the atmospheric pressure beneath the same, and through the connections described, the time of exhaust cut-ofl is varied.

Any suitable forn of air check valve may be used at the end of the exhaust pipe B beyond the connection thereof withthe condenser, such as will prevent the entrance of air into the exhaust pipe upon the reduction of the pressure therein at or below the atmosphere.

I have shown in Figs. 4 to 9, inclusive, an approved form of aircheck valve which is made as follows: Said valve, which is designated as a whole by the letter F, comprisesa vertical annular casing F which is reduced at its ends and provided with upper and lower flanges for attachment to the sections of the exhaust ipe B The casing is providedin teriorly tihereof near its lowerend with a re,-

tion.

dueed' annular flange F the upper face of which const tutes a seat against which fits a vertlcall movable valve closure E Said closure 'is'provided on its under face with a yielding ring f 2 which engages the valve seat formed on the flange F and with. a disk F which fitsclosely inside the upper end of said flange. F5 designatesa valve stem which extends centrally through the valve closure and has screw-threaded engagement with the disk F Said stem is connected by means of links f 4 f? with an oscillatory vertically swinging lever F above the valve which is pivoted, at one end to a pivot pin f fixed to one/side wall of the casing F, and is provided at its other end, laterally beyond the stem F, with a gear with a stuffing box which surrounds theshaft to prevent the leakage of steam or air therethrough. The lever carries at its outer segment F which meshes with a similar gear 7 end a sliding adjustable weightF and also a .flat retarding plate F which is herein shown as attached to or formed integral withthe weight F Whenthe valve is closed, as

shown in Fig. 4, the weighted leverv F as sumes an angle to the horizontal, as shown in Fig. 4, in the neighborhood of 60 and the valve areso proportioned that when the lever is atthis angle, the valve and associated parts overbalance the weight and lever sothata pressure in the exhaust pipe in excess of atmospheric pressure is required to initially lift the valve to open the same. When, however, the valve is opened b .the

saidweight and the movable parts of the 4 superior pressure ofthei steam in the ex aust the gears on the leversF and F to throw the .outer end of the lever F downwardly and pipe, the rising of said valve acts through creased until it approaches a" horizontal po'si- The retarding plate'F prevents the weight from throwing the lever abruptly downwardly and'bri ngin'g objectionable pars and'shocks on the movable parts of the va ve.

When the weighted lever occupies its lower position andQwhen, therefore, the valve closure; is raised off its seat, said levenand weight balances the closure so that no pressure other than that exertedby the kinetic energy of the steam escaping past the same is required beneath the closure to hold the same ofl its seat.- When the pressure in the exhaustpipe is below atmospheric pressure, such atmospheric pressure acts on the upper face of the closure to close the valve and hold it closed and when said pressure in the exhaust pipe exceeds'atmospheric pressure, the.

valve is opened by the superiorrpressure be-v neath the same.

- swung on its axis of oscillation. As herein shown, the disk is provided -on its outer face with a notch f which receives said lever, and

, the lever and disk are aflixed to the shaft with the faces of theflangej and disk f engaging each other, by means of a screw-bolt f extending throu h said lever and into the end of the rock-sha t. The adj acent.0r con tacting faces of the disk and flange are provided with teethf (Figs. 7 and 8) whereby,

when said parts are locked together by the bolt f, the disk f and interlocked lever are held immovably at -the angle desired relatively to the horizontal lane of the axis of the shaft F It is desira le in a, valve of this character that it should be either completely closed or completely open, and that while open it should not require pressure from the steam beneath to hold it open. It is also desirable that the valve closure should be so proportioned and weighted that it will not be opened by slight variations of back pressure in the exhaust pipe due to the distinct pulsations occurring in the separate strokes of the piston, but it is advisable that such closure should not be opened until a substantial back pressure has accumulated in the exhaust pipe; and when such condition of back pres.

sure occurs it is desirablethat the valve be opened promptly to-reduce the back pressure. In other words, it is undesirable that the air check-valve shall be opened and closed during each distinct pulsatioh of' the engine when the back pressure is hovering around atmospheric pressure.

It is a preferred construction, which will now be described, that'the valve shall be opened only by. a back pressure somewhat in excess of atmospheric pressure, regardless of the pulsations of the engine and shallremain open until the back pressure is reduced to or slightly below atmospheric pressure. The construction by which this result is accomplished is made as follows: The'closure F is extended radially beyond the aching ring f 2 thereof, as clearl shown in fligwl, and is turned downwar ly to form an annularrim F which fits closely within an annular, n-

V wardly facing seat formed by the inner face of a vertical annular-flange F in the casing. The valye 1s not fully'opened, therefore, until the rim F is raised above the upper margin of the flange F The extension of said valve closure plate F in the manner described provides outside of the circumferential area of the valve seat an added surface the c osure, which is less than the area acted upon by the atmosphere, but when said disk is raised above the level of the valve seat, the area is increased by adding thereto the annular surface f of the plate F of the closure and that art of the yielding rin f in line with the ange F so that the ad itional upward force exerted by the steam on the added surface of the valve acts to 'quicklyopen the valve. It will be understood, however, that the movements of the valve both to open and close the same are not abrupt but are gradual by reason of the provision of the retarding plate F ,he1'einabove referred to. When the valve is being seated, its closing movement is further retarded by reason of the entrance of the rim F within the flange F, the flan e constituting a pocket which contains a ho y. of cushioning fluid which retards the seating movement of the valve.

The grease catcher and dehydrator B located in the exhaust pipe, as shown in detail i Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, is made as follows Said device consists of a grease and water separating chamber BF rovided at its opposite sides with steami et and exit passages 6 b res ectively, (Fig. 14) and provided inside said chamber between said passages with aplurality of vertical intercepting or baffle-bars b made of a non-corrodible metal, as copper, upon which is deposited out of the steam the grease and water. Beneath .said separating chamber. and in open communication therewith is a water collecting chamber B provided with a dlscharge passage b whic is closed by a valve I) oper ated by a float mechanism indicated as a whole by b, and constructed to o en the valve upon the rise of the water in sar chamber to a certain height and to close sald valve 'when the water level recedes below said height. Li uid is thus automatically and intermittent ly discharged through the valved passage 1)" and the pipe B before referred to, into, the catch basin B below. Said chamber is rovided with a valved drain pipe I 75 is re resented by the area of the disk F of 

